Dublin, Ireland

Dublin's compact center, literary history, and pub culture make it an easy city to drop into for a few days, and its airport handles some of the busiest transatlantic traffic in Europe, including US preclearance, which simplifies onward connections to the US. That combination makes it a genuinely convenient meeting point between North America and the rest of Europe.

Top attractions

• •Trinity College and the Book of Kells
• •Guinness Storehouse, for the brewery tour and rooftop bar view
• •Temple Bar, for pubs and live music (busiest and most touristy after dark)
• •Kilmainham Gaol, a former prison central to Irish independence history
• •A day trip to the cliffside village of Howth, a short train ride away

Practical tips

• •Dublin Airport (DUB) has no rail link — the Airlink or Aircoach buses are the standard way into the city center.
• •US-bound travelers can clear US immigration preclearance at Dublin Airport itself, arriving in the US as a domestic passenger.
• •Pubs often serve food as well as drinks, and many stop serving food earlier in the evening than in continental Europe.

Frequently asked questions